{"title":"Rioja","description":"\u003cp\u003eSpain's most storied wine region — Tempranillo blends aged in American and French oak, from Crianza to Gran Reserva.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"la-rioja-alta-gran-reserva-904-2004-magnum","title":"Gran Reserva 904 2004 (Magnum), La Rioja Alta","description":"\u003cp\u003eExcellence runs in this historical family of Riojas.🏅🏆@lariojaaltasa\u003cbr\u003e904 is an adaptation and a star successor of the original 1904 representing the year the winery came into being with the merger of La Rioja Alta \u0026amp; Ardanza Winery.\u003cbr\u003eRioja, from Northern Spain 🇪🇸 has a few sub-regions with Rioja Alta, the most famous. Known for wines of elegance, La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 is a blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano.\u003cbr\u003eGran Reservas by law must be aged for five years, at least two of those years in oak. La Rioja goes some considerable distance beyond this minimum by spending 4 yrs in barrels and another 5 in bottle before these are released.\u003cbr\u003eApart from their bottles, I personally find their passion to improve every aspect of wine making is unparalleled.\u003cbr\u003eFrom spending heavily on R\u0026amp;D to modernise the wineries, to use of optical guided lasers for sorting berries to actually creating their own barrels, directly importing oak that is specially selected in the United States and naturally dried on the estate in Spain, its like the winery doesn't want to leave any opportunity to improve where they can.\u003cbr\u003eAs Dorothy J Gaiter, acclaimed journalist and wine writer for New York Times wrote, \"Riojas in great years can take at least 15 years to hit their stride, becoming heavenly, structured wines of rich earth, cherry-raspberry-like fruit, hints of chocolate, vanilla and spice, taut acidity, and gracious tannins. The oak and fruit in full harmony. They are ready to drink when released but can stay in your cellar for years, if you can keep your hands off them.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"This is a very complete wine with such beautiful length and intensity. It’s compact and very driven with a great finish and length. Dark berries, dried flowers, sandalwood and hints of dried fruit. Extremely long and balanced. Drink now.\"\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e97\/100, James Suckling, Jul 2018\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"The 2004 Gran Reserva 904 is Tempranillo from Brinas, Labastida and Villalba balanced with 10% Graciano from Briones and Rodezno. The grapes were fermented and macerated in inox vats for 14 days at 28º C, and malolactic fermentation lasted 28 days. The wine aged for 4 years in used American oak barrels averaging 4 years old, during which time it was manually racked 8 times. 150,000 bottles were filled. This 2004, from a superb vintage shows a beautiful light red color with a brick rim and a superb nose redolent of balsamic woods, spices, leather, well-hung meat, incense and truffles. The light to medium-bodied palate shows fully resolved tannins, great acidity and pure, pungent flavors that linger in the mouth forever and that can only be Rioja. This is a wine to smell over and over again. It might sound like an exaggeration, but this wine is still too young and you should wait a little bit and drink the superb 2001 vintage which should still be available on the market while this one matures in bottle. At this quality level the price is superb especially considering that the wine is being released 10 years after the vintage. Drink 2016-2024.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLa Rioja Alta has tremendously improved its wines in the last few years while keeping faithful to the most classical style. They have always been hugely popular in Spain, but they seem to be selling their wines faster and don’t produce every cuvee in every vintage and as a result had very few new wines to show. Vina Ardanza jumped from 2001 to 2004, and the next vintage will be 2005. Followers of traditional Rioja are very lucky as both the 904 as the 890 coming on the market are from great vintages and are superb.\"\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e96\/100 Luis Gutierrez, Roberparker.com\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"(90% tempranillo and 10% graciano): Bright red. Heady aromas of dried red berries, cherry, smoked meat, vanilla and potpourri, with a spicy element gaining strength with air. Fleshy and seamless in texture, offering sappy red fruit and floral pastille flavors and an undertone of sweet vanilla. The spiciness comes back on the finish, which features suave floral and cherry-vanilla qualities and sneaky tannins. This classic, old-school Rioja is delicious now but is destined for a long, graceful evolution.\"\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e94\/100, Josh Reynolds, Vinous 2014\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"La Rioja Alta","offers":[{"title":"Magnum","offer_id":48401717002432,"sku":null,"price":350.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/6718\/7648\/files\/s322413735741970331_p154_i2_w1181.png?v=1781252686"},{"product_id":"la-rioja-alta-904-gran-reserva-2005-magnum","title":"Gran Reserva 904 2005 (Magnum), La Rioja Alta","description":"\u003cp\u003eExcellence runs in this historical family of Riojas. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lariojaaltasa\/\"\u003e@lariojaaltasa\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e904 is an adaptation and a star successor of the original 1904 representing the year the winery came into being with the merger of La Rioja Alta \u0026amp; Ardanza Winery.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRioja, from Northern Spain has a few sub-regions with Rioja Alta, the most famous. Known for wines of elegance, La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 is a blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGran Reservas by law must be aged for five years, at least two of those years in oak. La Rioja goes some considerable distance beyond this minimum by spending 4 yrs in barrels and another 5 in bottle before these are released.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eApart from their bottles, I personally find their passion to improve every aspect of wine making is unparalleled.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom spending heavily on R\u0026amp;D to modernise the wineries, to use of optical guided lasers for sorting berries to actually creating their own barrels, directly importing oak that is specially selected in the United States and naturally dried on the estate in Spain, its like the winery doesn't want to leave any opportunity to improve where they can.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs Dorothy J Gaiter, acclaimed journalist and wine writer for New York Times wrote, Riojas in great years can take at least 15 years to hit their stride, becoming heavenly, structured wines of rich earth, cherry-raspberry-like fruit, hints of chocolate, vanilla and spice, taut acidity, and gracious tannins. The oak and fruit in full harmony. They are ready to drink when released but can stay in your cellar for years, if you can keep your hands off them.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe 2005 Gran Reserva 904 is a superb blend of Tempranillo from the villages of Briñas, Labastida and Villalba with 10% Graciano from Briones and Rodezno. The grapes were destemmed and crushed and fermented in stainless steel for 18 days at 25 C. Malolactic fermentation was spontaneous and lasted 38 days. These wines are marked by a long aging in used American oak barrels following the most strict Riojan tradition; four years during which time the wine was manually racked eight times. This is usually my favorite wine from La Rioja Alta and 2005 is one of its best showings, going back to the quality of the vintages of the 1950s and 60s. The nose is very balsamic with notes of camphor, hints of mint, leather and hung game wrapped around a core of cherries in liqueur. Together it is balanced, subtle, truly elegant and classical. The palate is only medium-bodied but with great concentration of flavors that are very tasty, mineral, almost salty and framed by ultra-fine tannins and smashing balance. A great classic. This wine will be released in October 2015, a full ten years after the vintage. At this quality level this is a bargain.\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e96\/100, Luis Gutiérrez, Robertparker.com Apr 2015\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAromas of pine needles, ginger, red fruits and cedar. Mushroom too, plus bark and mint. Complex. Full body, ultra fine tannins and a tangy and bright finish. Makes you want to drink it. Made from 90% tempranillo with 10% graciano from 40+ year-old vineyards in the Brinas, Labastida and Villalba. Drink or hold.\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e95\/100, James Suckling, Mar 2020\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"La Rioja Alta","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48402495439040,"sku":null,"price":350.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/6718\/7648\/files\/s322413735741970331_p142_i2_w1181.png?v=1781254335"},{"product_id":"la-rioja-alta-gran-reserva-2011","title":"Gran Reserva 904 2011, La Rioja Alta","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe next installment from the estate is turning out to be a darling and there is no surprise the estate owners are cashing in on the popularity. The bottles are released at a higher price year on year. We only have managed to restock with a small parcel.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVintage 2011\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Lovely dried red fruit, such as plums with just a hint of prunes. Cedar, walnut and leather undertones. Full-bodied with lots of fruit, considering its age, as well as hints of smoke, tobacco, bark and black tea. Some balsamic at the finish. Traditionally styled with lovely results. Drink or hold.\"\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e96\/100, James Suckling, Jan 2022\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVintage 2010\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e\"Fresh blueberries and brambleberries take center stage, which is striking for a wine of this age. There are also lots of roasted herbs, such as sage, not to mention floral elements, including lavender and dried violets. Then come cedar, sandalwood and tar. The tannins are incredibly round and soft, without the slightest hint of anything dry. This is among the most elegant of Riojas, where the acidity is wonderfully pronounced and cuts right through any touch of dried fruit. Long and powerful, yet subtle on the finish. Drink now, or hold for a very long time.\"\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e98\/100, James Suckling, Jul 2019\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"It seems like yesterday when the superb 2001 was released, and now I already have the 2010 Gran Reserva 904 in my glass. It has to be among the greatest modern time vintages of this mythical bottling, where they aim for a wine that has a long aging potential. This is mostly Tempranillo with 10% Graciano and 13.5% alcohol, and it matured in fourth-used American oak barrels for four years, during which time the wine was racked every six months. It has the combination of elegance and power only the best vintages are capable of, with the classical aromas, great detail and nuance, very good balance and persistence. They consider 2010 among the best years of this century, and maybe future generations will talk about 2010 like we talk about the great classical vintages of yesterday today. The palate is polished but shows plenty of energy and tension, the tannins are very fine and elegant, and the flavors are focused and clean. This has to be one of the greatest wines from the vintage. A legend in the making. 150,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2015.\"\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e96+ Luis Gutiérrez, Robertparker.com, Jul 2019\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"La Rioja Alta","offers":[{"title":"750ml","offer_id":48403535560896,"sku":null,"price":135.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/6718\/7648\/files\/s322413735741970331_p145_i2_w1181.png?v=1781256598"},{"product_id":"marques-de-riscal-gran-reserva-1987","title":"Marques de Riscal Gran Reserva 1987","description":null,"brand":"Marques de Riscal Gran Reserva","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48633720438976,"sku":null,"price":285.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/6718\/7648\/files\/wm_105.png?v=1784382083"},{"product_id":"vina-arana-gran-reserva-2014-la-rioja-alta","title":"Vina Arana Gran Reserva 2014, La Rioja Alta","description":null,"brand":"La Rioja Alta","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48633740787904,"sku":null,"price":95.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0749\/6718\/7648\/files\/wm_175.png?v=1784382179"}],"url":"https:\/\/thewinemonk.com\/collections\/rioja.oembed","provider":"The Wine Monk","version":"1.0","type":"link"}